Restraining device



V. L. VAN PELT RESTRAINING DEVICE Jan. 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 INVENTOR Vee'ov/i 1.. l/AA/ P64 7 BY g fla ATTORNEYS Jan. 1 0, 1967 v. L. VAN PELT 3,297,026

RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Dec. '15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet z F/G'. 5 v 7 ATTO R N EYS United States Patent 3,2'7,t)26 RESTRAHNKNG DEVICE Verona L. Van kelt, 350 E. 17th St, New York, N.Y. 10003 Filed Dec. 15, 1964, der. No. 418,484 ll Claims. ((31. 128133) This invention relates to a restraining device and, more particularly, to a restraining device having particular applicability in restraining or holding a limb of an anatomical body.

Heretofore it has been rather prevalent to hold or restrain an arm, for example, whether for psychiatric applications or medical or surgical reasons, by means of straps, chains or ropes employing rather heavy buckles and shackles. It has been found that people subjected to such devices through psychological Lmotivation attempt to pull on these devices presumably to free the part of the body being restrained. As a result, there is considerable damage inflicted on occasion to the part of the body being restrained. From time to time, chafing of the skin occurs. Undesirable pressure on nerves and occlusion of blood vessels to an unacceptable extent have occurred. The very nature of the prior art devices rendered it rather difficult and time consuming to remove the particular restraining devices if for any other reason than to permit the patient to change position.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to eliminate the several aforenoted disadvantages, among others, of prior art restraining devices; and, at the same time, provide an effective as well as acceptable restraining device which is capable of supplying extreme comfort to an individual or patient under the most difficult of circumstances.

Another object is to provide an essentially autoclavable, reusable restraining device utilizing a washable and replaceable foam-type pad for engaging directly with the part of the body being restrained.

A further object is to provide a restraining device that is relatively easily and quickly applied and removed by also being capable of adjustment in assuring adequate securement and patient comfort.

Still another object is to provide a restraining device not employing any metallic parts thereby rendering the device pyschologically acceptable and a device capable of successful application in restraining patients having nasal or oral tubes, catheters, intravenous or subcutaneous administration sets.

In accordance with the present invention, a restraining device is provided in which an elongated foam pad is adapted to be wrapped around the part of the body being restrained. A strap extends from this pad and has a free end that is adapted to be looped and, in this fashion, secured to a chair, bed or other support to which the part of the body of the patient is to be secured. The free end of the strap is provided with a combination pile and hook fabric fastener readily available commercially and well known as a Velcro-type of fastener. Through the deployment of this fastener at the free end of the strap a loop may be formed and also secured to the selected anchoring support to which the body part is to be secured. A laterally extending extension at the free end of the strap also having a Velcro pile and hook fastener is adapted to be wrapped around the loop to assure against inadvertent release of the anchoring action provided by the loop and, in this manner, provide a locking means against possible release due to activity of the patient being restrained. A band is also coupled with the pad at the juncture between the pad and strap and is provided with pile and hook fastening means whereby the band is adapted to be wrapped around the exterior of the pad and the fastener then applied in securing the restraining device around the part of the body of the patient being restrained. As will be appreciated by those familiar with the Velcro-type of fastener, the secured parts may readily be released upon peeling the pile and hooks from one another.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the restraining device of this invention associated with the wrist of a patient being restrained and a bar of the anchoring support to which the restraining device is secured;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restraining device prior to use and application;

FIG. 2a is an exploded perspective view of the restraining device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, a restraining device it is shown associated with a wrist T2 of a patient and a stationary rod type of support 14 to which the wrist is to be temporarily secured. The restraining device It includes a substantially elongated resilient pad 16 of generally rectangular configuration for wrapping around a part of the limb of the patient being restrained. A successful and somewhat preferred embodiment of this invention has employed a foam-type of material for the pad 16 which possessed suitable resiliency and softness while being somewhat porous for ventilation purposes. The pad may be of a type that is washable and autoclavable thereby rendering it reusable. Suitable foams are available for the intended purpose and may be obtained commercially under the name of Scott Industrial Foam supplied by the Foam Division--Scott Paper Company, Chester, Pennsylvania.

An important aspect of this invention is the provisions of replacement of the pad l6 particularly in those cases where the patient being restrained is afflicted with a contagious disease or where the pad is primarily intended to be disposable or has worn out. This invention takes advantage of the Velcro fastener to permit the pad 16 to be secured to the remainder of the restraining device but yet readily removed therefrom for replacement. Velcro fasteners and information pertaining thereto may be obtained from the Velcro Corporation, of New York City, New York. According to the supplier, Velcro is a nylon tape fastener consisting of two strips of nylon tape. One strip (the hook or male section) is covered with a myriad of stiff little books; the other strip (the pile or female section) is covered with thousands of tiny, soft loops. When pressed together, the hooks and loops engage creating an adjustable, highly versatile and secure closure. To open, it is simply peeled apart.

In rendering the pad removable, a strip 18 is iadhesively or otherwise secured to the pad 16 and is provided with a pile or female section of a Velcro fastener. The width of the pad 16 is sufficient to extend beyond the side edges of strip 18. In this manner, chafing by the strip will be prevented. In order to assure this relationship, the strip 18 is preferably secured to the pad 16. A band 20 having a mating hook or male section 22 is fastened to the tape 18. The band 20 is of two-ply construction in which a pile or female section 24 is suitably secured to the hook or male section 22 together with an extension 26 thereof. As will be appreciated from the several figures, the extension 26 of the male section is adapted to be secured to the female section 24 when the pad 16 is Wrapped around the part of the body being restrained.

A strap 28 is connected intermediate the ends of the band 20. This strap is provided with a pile or female section 30. A short strip 32 is suitably secured to the free end of strap 28 and is provided with a hook or male section 34. In this manner, the free end of the strap 28, together with its extension 32, may be formed in a loop with the male section 34- placed into engagement with the female section 30 to thereby anchor this end of the strap around the selected support.

In order to securely lock the looped end of the strap and prevent inadvertent or undesirable release of the formed fastener, a locking means in the form of a laterally extending strip 36 is provided. This strip 36 is secured approximately at the junction between the free end of the strap 28 and its extension 32. This strip is of two-ply construction in which one face presents a hook or male section 38 while the opposed face is provided with a pile or female section 40. By simply wrapping the extension 36 around the fastened looped end of the strap, the male section 38 may be placed into engagement with the female section 40. In this manner, the fastened loop will be locked in place until such time as it is desired to relieve the restraint. This may be accomplished by simply unwrapping the fastened extension strip 36 and then the fastened portion of the loop at the free end of the strap 28.

As will be appreciated, the size of the loop at the free end of the strap 20 may be adjustable to thereby provide an adjustable length of strap between the arm 12, for example, and its restraining support 14. Of course, the manner in which both the .pad 16 and the strap loop is attached and fastened requires the exercise of a minimum amount of skill and may be accomplished within a minimum period of time. By the same token, the restraining device may be unfastened and removed in like order.

Thus, the aforenoted objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be taken by that of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A restraining device for an anatomical limb comprising: an elongated cushioning member for application to the limb being restrained; a strap extending from the cushioning member and having a free end and a connected end; holding means including an elongated flat band having a free end and a connected end for holding the cushioning member about the limb; connecting means for connecting the connected end of the strap to the band intermediate its ends and for connecting the band connected end to the cushioning member; an anchoring means forming part of the free end of the strap for anchoring the free end of the strap to a relatively stationary object, and locking means for locking the free end of the strap in its anchored position.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cushioning member is formed of sponge-like material and is substantially rectangular in configuration.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the band includes Velcro-type fastening means for holding the band and, consequently, the cushioning means about the limb.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the width of the cushioning member is greater than that of the band so that the cushioning member extends beyond the sides of the band whereby chafing of the band is prevented.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said anchoring means includes a Velcro-type fastener forming part of the free end of the strap.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said locking means includes -a laterally extending strip releasably securable about the fastener and being connected to the free end of the strap at a location intermediate the strap ends.

'7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein fastening means are interposed between said cushioning member and said holding member for releasably securing said pad such that it may be removed and replaced with another pad.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the anchoring means is actuated upon looping the free end of the strap, said strap loop being adjustable to thereby adjust the effective length of said strap and the distance between the stationary object and the limb to be restrained.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a fastening means is at the free end of said strap and is adapted to be actuated upon placing the free end of the strap in a loop about a relatively stationary object to thereby anchor the free end of the strap and, accordingly, restrain the limb.

10. A restraining device for an anatomical limb comprising: an elongated cushioning member for application to the limb being restrained; a strap extending from the cushioning member and having a free end and a connected end; connecting means for connecting the connected end of the strap to said cushioning member; holding means for holding the cushioning member about the limb, an anchoring means including a Velcro-type fastener forming part of the free end of the strap for anchoring the free end of the strap to a relatively stationary object, and locking means for locking the free end of the strap in its anchored position which includes a laterally extending strip releasably securable about the fastener and being connected to the free end of the strap at a location intermediate the strap ends.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein the strip includes a Velcro-type fastener adapted to be wrapped and engaged around the fastened free end of the strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,923,809 8/1933 Bates l28l34 2,998,008 8/1961 Klesa l28l33 3,086,529 4/1963 Munz et a1. l28134 X ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RESTRAINING DEVICE FOR AN ANATOMICAL LIMB COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED CUSHIONING MEMBER FOR APPLIATION TO THE LIMB BEING RESTRAINED; A STRAP EXTENDING FROM THE CUSHIONING MEMBER AND HAVING A FREE END AND A CONNECTED END; HOLDING MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED FLAT BAND HAVING A FREE END AND A CONNECTED END FOR HOLDING THE CUSHIONING MEMBER ABOUT THE LIMB; CONNECTING MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE CONNECTED END OF THE STRAP TO THE BAND INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS AND FOR CONNECTING THE BAND CONNECTED END TO THE CUSHIONING MEMBER; AN ANCHORING MEANS FORMING PART OF THE FREE END OF THE STRAP FOR ANCHORING THE FREE END OF THE STRAP TO A RELATIVELY STATIONARY OBJECT, AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LOCKING THE FREE END OF THE STRAP IN ITS ANCHORED POSITION. 